The Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres (MAC) was established in 1971 as a non-profit body to represent the concerns of the growing number of Friendship Centres in Manitoba. As a Provincial Territorial Association (PTA) MAC now represents 10 Centres at Provincial and National forums.

Each of the 10 Friendship Centres are funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Aboriginal Friendship Centre Program (AFCP) which is administered by the National Association of Friendship Centres. MAC, under the new transfer agreements signed between the NAFC and Canadian Heritage, has a new and ever important role with respect to funding accountability and efficiency.

MAC's role is to act as the liaison and facilitator of the process for providing funding from the AFCP to the individual Friendship Centres in Manitoba.

The MAC office also acts as the central communications office between the Friendship Centres in Manitoba and the NAFC. As well, MAC advocates for the Friendship Centres in all service areas such as education, aboriginal training, employment and housing.

The Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centres (UMAYC) Initiative is designed to provide urban Aboriginal youth with a wide range of culturally based programs, services and activities that are locally controlled and designed in conjunction with Aboriginal youth...